Hermelin, S. G.

The right side, especially the margin, is browned. Some stains in the margins. Short tear in the lower margin. Water stain in the lower right corner.

This is the beautiful contents leaf to Samuel Gustav Hermelins atlas of Sweden and Finland "Geografiske Kartor öfver Swerige", which was the first comprehensive mapping of these countries. There are acctually three different editions of the contents leaf : 1799, 1805 and 1810. Each edition with more maps added. An earlier cartographic attempt by "Kongl. Landtmäteri Contoiret" in the 18th century, did not manage to cover the entire country. Samuel Gustav Hermelin launched his major cartographic undertaking as a private citizen. Unfortunately he suffered substantial economic loss. Due to economic difficulties the work, in its later stages, was continued by "Geographisk Inrättning", a private company before the government bought the plates, and the rights, to the work in the 1820s. The atlas was published 1796-1818. The finnish part of the atlas was produced a few years before Sweden lost Finland to Russia.